Katie Learns the Duties of a Board Member

Cheryl and Dr. Gilbride-Brown came and spoke with us about board responsibilities. They also spoke of the legal duties of nonprofit boards: duty of care, duty of obedience, and duty of loyalty. What did you learn about these duties? What surprised you? What do you think of these duties?

I learned so much from listening to Cheryl and Dr. Gilbride-Brown talk about their experiences with nonprofit boards and the responsibilities that one must uphold when accepting a position to sit on a board. As they spoke about the legal duties of the board, I have learned something about each one and how they play into one’s role on a board. I feel like these duties allow us to really remember the reasons we accept a position and remind us of the basic values we have promised to the nonprofit we are serving.

Duty of Care: Being engaged. It is extremely important to be invested in the mission of the nonprofit and actively participating in all of the board’s activities, functions and meetings. Not only should you attend these commitments, but understanding discussions and engaging in thoughtful conversations is important.

Duty of Loyalty: You must be devoted to the mission and values of the organization. It is your responsibility to live out these in your daily life and prove that you are passionate about the cause.

Duty of Obedience/Compliance: You must be faithful and ensure that the organization is complying with laws and regulations. By understanding your full responsibilities, you will know what your role is and how to fully execute your duties.

I think what I gathered most from the discussion about the duties one has as a board member was how important it is to take the position seriously. You have been asked to sit on a board for a reason, and you must be honest with yourself and the board to ensure that you are advancing it in the best possible way. By fulfilling your duties, you are able to make a difference, but by not fulfilling these duties, you are actually hurting the direction of the nonprofit. I appreciated how honest Cheryl and Dr. Gilbride-Brown were with us when discussing this topic. It was especially helpful in understanding the effects that board members have on the growth of an organization.

Quote of the Week: “Be proud of how far you have come, and have faith in how far you can go.” Richard Springs